By Fatima Muraina
|
The Ondo State government has enjoined cooperative societies in the state to engage in wealth generation and improve the socio-economic life of members.
This is as the government also restated its commitment to support all activities geared towards the development of cooperative societies in the state.
Commissioner for Commerce, Industry and Cooperative services, Akinwumi Sowore stated this during a seminar organised by the State Cooperative Federation (ODSCOFED) for cooperative societies in Akure.
The seminar was aimed at addressing contemporary challenges facing cooperatives with a view to strengthening their operations.
Sowore, who was represented by the Director of Small Scale Industry, Mr Temitope Ikuyinminu urged cooperative societies to curtail their non-compliance, flouting of regulations and fraudulent practices among some of the cooperative executive members.
Sowore noted that the International Cooperative Alliance (ICS) acknowledges education, training and information as cardinal principles for sustainable cooperative development.
He restated the pivotal role of cooperative societies in providing socio-economic needs of members in the areas of credit facility, shelter, purchase of landed property, house-hold commodities among others.
Earlier, the acting President of the state Cooperative Federation Limited (ODSCOFED), Samuel Olorungbeja said the theme for the year’s workshop: “Cooperative Law and Regulation: A Panacea To Cooperative Development” was designed to tackle some of the challenges facing the societies and to further equip them for better performance.
He explained that the 5th principle of the cooperative provides for the training of members, officers and employees of the cooperatives which will continually empower members to make effective and useful contributions to the growth of their cooperatives.
He, therefore, charged all participants to accord the seminar the seriousness it deserves, saying that the training will go a long way in bringing the desired improvement to the various unions and societies.
